Foldable reflector



July 4, 1950 c. w. OSTRQM 2,513,961

FOLDABLE REFLECTOR Filed NOV. e, 194e Patented July 4, 1950 Cameron W. Ostrom, Seattle, Wash.y

Application November 6, 1,948, Serial No. 58,780

4 Claims. (Cl. 88-90) I This invention relates to a foldable reflector for use in photographic work as a means of picking up light rays either from the sun or from an artificial source of illumination and directing the same by reflection upon the object which is to be photographed.

The reflector of the present invention is of that nature employing a multiplicity of leaves of little more than threadpaper thickness each formed tov the shape of a sector of a circle and Iwith the sectorsv being superimposed one upon lanother and pivoted at the apices to admit of the same being fanned out from an inoperative position whereat the leaves overlie one another to an operating position whereat the leaves act in complement to form a disk-like figure. Asone of its objects, the invention aims to devise a foldable reflector of this character embodying stops to limit the degree to which each leaf is able to move in relation to a next adjacent leaf when the instrument is fanned out to produce the reflector disk, and having a clamping instrumentality made functional upon the pivoted apices to frictionally hold the leaves in operating position.

As a still further object, the invention looks to 'f the provision of a device of the described nature embodying a sustaining stand for the leaves, and which said stand is made extensible and is integrated with a pedestal arranged Iand adapted when the device is not in use to serve as a housing encasing the free ends of the leaves for protecting these fragile sections against liability of becoming bent or otherwise damaged.

With the above objects in mind, iand further the several associated leaves fanned out into operating position.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the device showing the parts as they appear when folded into inoperative position and with the free ends encased within the receiving pocket provided by the stand.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view on line 3-'3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view detailing the stop devices which act to limit the 'opening movements -of the leaves.

Referring to said drawing, the numeral I0 denotes a pedestal establishing a stabile footing for the device and produced to the approximate shape of an open-top box, and suitably attached to this box body at a point central to the back wall yand projecting upwardly therefr-om is a two-part stand composed of associated sections II and I2 connected for endwise sliding movement and having a wing-nut I3 permitting the movable section I 2 to be clamped in longitudinally adjusted positions. A headed pin I4 is passed from the front side of the stand through the upper or head end of the movable section, and sustained o-n and movable about this pin as a pivot are the multiple congruent leaves I 5 which act in complement to produce the reflector disk of the present invention. These leaves, which are each of sectoral shape, have their 1apices suitably pienced to fit over the pin and at opposite extremities of their arcuate perimeters are each formed with lingerlike projections, as IB and I1. The lingers I'I are each bent rearwardly at right angles to the plane of the leaf into overlying relation to the rim yof the proximal leaf `which lies to the immediate rear thereof, and in such a manner, more especially, as will cause each said Ifinger I6 to interrupt the travel of the fingers I'I as the leaves are spread. In tanning out the leaves, it thus becomes necessary :only that the operator hold the rearmost leaf stationary and swing the foremost leaf through somewhat less than a full circle of travel, this foremost leaf and each followingleaf in the series acting successively to pick up and swing the next adjacent leaf as its hooking finger l1 is brought up against the stop finger I6 of the next adjacent leaf. While not illustrated inthe drawing the hooking finger of the rearmost leaf, rather than being'bent rearwardly, is or may be brought forwardly such as will enable the same to be releasably caught over the rim of the foremost leaf when the multiple leaves have been fanned out into the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 1. The several leaves are caused to be frictionally held in `any given position through clamping pressure exerted from a wing nut Zfthreaded upon the pivot pin I Il. `The leaves which I employ are of threadpaper thickness and are composed of any material suitable for the purpose such, for example, as sheet aluminum, plastic or thin cardboard, and peculiarized in the instance of any such material by the provision upon the leafs frontal face of a glazed surface capable of efciently reflecting light rays. The leaves which I prefer to employ are flat but vthe same can, if desired, be slightly curved in a direction lengthwise of the leaf -to produce, when'fanned out, a dished reector.

It is here pointed out that the leaves, While I have indicated the same as being in exact backf to-back registration when-folded together, ac-

correspondence with the box cavity of the stand l0, and the extensible nature of the mounting stand permits this stand to be then drawn up;- wardly toward the pivot and into housing engagement over said butt whereupon the wing' nut I3 is tightened to localize the stand.

It is here pointed out that an effective reflection of light from the reflector demands that the glazed reflective faces of the several leaves be yof such a nature as to effect a diffusion of the light. From numerous experiments with collapsiblereectors where, as in the present device, the component leaves necessarily lap one another and hence occupy slightly offset planes, it has been my lfinding that where the leaves are smooth-faced the light rays cast therefrom travel along disorganized paths which are incapable of being effectively controlled and there appears upon the photographic negative numerous light spots lwhich destroy the clarity of the picture. A highly effective means for diffusing the light is to employ leaves having their reflective faces slightly embossed, giving much the impression of a hammered surface. When so treated, the reflector is free of glare and a general diffusing of the light results to give to photographs of the illuminated object a soft tone suggestive of the professionals work.

I am aware that there is shown and described in U. S. Pat. No. 1,313,102, issued `July '7., 1931, a foldable reflector bearing some resemblance to the present invention. Such patented reflector, aside from `its employment of smooth-faced leaves, is expressly engineered to Apermit of the reflection of light rays from a lamp carried cen- -trally thereof, and hence has vthe objection, from a ,photographic consideration, of placing the source of light to the front of the kobject being photographed. rlhe present reflector is primarily aimedto provide a means by which an amateur photographer, using only a single source of light, is enabledv to obtain-results approaching those which a commercial photographer procures from a severalty of strategically placed light sources,

and this is to say that the operator can have the source of light, which may be the sun, located `to the rear or to either side of the object being photographed, and then cast diffused light upon the 'front of the object by reflection. Unusually effective high-lighting can be obtained.

It is thought that the invention and the manner of its usage lwill have been clearly understood from the foregoing detailed description, I intend thatthe hereto annexed claims be given a scope fully commensurate with the broadest interpretation to which the employed language fairly admits. 1. A foldable reflector comprising, in combinaleaves are above the pedestal to a lowered position wherein they engage the pedestal, said pedestal being adapted to fit over and protect the ywide ends .ofthe leaves whenthey are brought together' in said layered mass into said lowered position.

2. A foldable reflector comprising, in combination: an extensible stand, a plurality of thin tion: a plurality of' thin sectoral-shaped cony or apical ends to permit the leaves to be vfanned out and produce a disk-like reflector, a stand havin'gsaid pivotal connection mounted at the headend thereof, andra pedestal for the stand,

said stand being adapted to permit said leaves to be moved from a raised position wherein the sectoral-shaped congruent leaves each having a reflective sur-face upon one face and arranged, when not in use, tooverlie one another in a layered mass, a connection `from the head of the stand to' the narrow or apical ends of the leaves permitting the leaves to be pivotally spread and fanned out to produce a disk-like reector,and a Ypedestal for the stand which, by a shortening kof the stand coincident with the act of folding the leaves intosaid layered mass, is adapted to fit over and protect the wide ends of said leaves.

3. A foldable reflector comprising, in .combination: a plurality of sectoral-shaped congruent leaves each having a vreflective surface upon one face and produced from thin sheet stockwith the apices apertured, said leaves in use being'ar ranged and adapted to be placed one in overlying relation to another with said apertures in registration, an Yextensible supporting stand apertured at its head end, a headed pin passing through said registering apertures of .the leaves and the aperture of the stand to serve as a pivot connecting the-leaves and permitting the latter to be fanned out for producing a disk-like reflector, a nut threadedly associated with the pin to .act with the head of the latter for exerting clamping pressure upon the pivoted apices of the leaves to frictionally hold the leaves against relative movement and a pedestal for the stand adapted to house thexwide ends of the leaves whenthe leaves are in a layered mass and the stand is shortened to bring Athe leaves into engagement with the pedestal. f

4. Afoldable reflector comprising, in combination: a plurality of sectoral-shaped congruent leaves each having a `reflective surface upon one face and produced from `thin sheet stock, a supporting stand, 'means pivotally supporting said several leaves from :the head end of the stand to permit the same to be fannedout from an inoperative layered massinto an operating disklike body, said `pivotal connection comprising a nutted pin operating by the act of taking up on the nut nto subject the leaves to releasable clamping Vpressure :for frictionally holding the leaves against vrelative movement, and a pedestal for the stand, said stand Vbeing adapted Yto permit said leaves to be moved from a raised position wherein the leaves are above the pedestal to a lowered position wherein they engage the pcdestal, said :pedestal being adapted to house the wide ends of the leaves when they lare brought together in said layered mass into said lowered position. l

CAMERON W. O'STROM.

,raEFinniNcEs'K orrsn The following references are of record `in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES' PATENTS Number Name lDate 1,753,697 Gardner Apr. `8, 1930 1,813,102` Vogel July 7, 1'931 2,221,890 Williams Nov. 19, 1940 y2,235,281. ,Gardner Mar. 18,1941 

